Rolling ball game



May 8, 1956 H. J. BEETHOVEN ROLLING BALL GAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 5, 1953 HARE? l. BEETHOl/EN IN VEN TOR.

y 8, 1956 H. J. BEETHOVEN 2,744,753

ROLLING BALL GAME Filed Feb. 5, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 8, 1956 H. J. BEETHOVEN ROLLING BALL GAME 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 f/HRRTJ BEETf/O VEN Filed Feb. s, 1955 and metal.

operation.

United States Patent This invention relates 'to games and zrnore particularly to'pin-ball games.

It is an object of the'present invention to provide apinball'game'which is formed entirely of corrugated cardboard and which may, therefore, be produced at'a'much lower cost than conventional pin-ball game's made of Wood It is another object of the present invention tolprovide aLpin-ball game of the above typewhich is formed entirely of four separate corrugated cardboard blanks, each tap- "propriately cut and adapted to be readily and easily folded and assembled into operative relationship. 7

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a pin-ball game of the above type wherein each of the blanks are adapted to be folded back upon themselvesfin doubled-up relation, providing an extremely compact Ipackagefor shipping .andpackaging.

It is still another object of the present invention to ,provide a pin ball game of the above'type wherein novel means are provided for returning the balls to the player at the end of the round or hand.

It is still another object of the ,present invention'tQlto- 'vide apin-ball game construction formed entirely of corrugated cardboard which may be adapted for any'oneof a plurality of games merely by varying the indicia carriedhy the openings at one end of the gaming surface. ,7 Other objects of the present invention are to provide'a pin-ball game bearing the aboveobjects inmind Wh'iclijis' of'simp'le construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is easy to use and efficient in For other objects and for a better understandingof the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description .takenin connection with the accompanying [blanks forming a part of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is aperspective view of still another of thereon rugated blanks forming apart of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofstill another of the corrugated blanks forming a part'of the presentlinvention and shown partly assembled;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the partly assembled blank of Fig. 5., shown foldedflat upon. itself;

, .Fig. 7 .isalongitudinalsectional view oftheassembled game showing .the manner of ,playing the, same andllthe.

relative-dispositionof the parts during the game;

. Fig. .8 .is a viewsirnilar to Fig. .7 but showing the manner Referring more in detail to the drawing, in which similar 7 2,744,153 Pate nted May 1956.

ICC

reference numerals identify corresponding parts throughly formed with siderflaps l9 and 20 along fold lines21 and 22,while the ends 14 and '15 are integrally formed with 'endflaps 23 and24 along fold lines 25 and'26.

Thefold lines 21 and 22, it will be noted, diverge from the bottom edges of sides 12 and 13, making the'bac'kend 15 of greater 'he'ig'ht than the front end 14. Also, the

.lflaps 'I-9---24 are adapted to coincide with their respective sides and endswhen folded inwardly along the fold'lines 21, 22, 25 .and'26, being of identical shape.

The end 1'5.is provided with a rectangular opening .27 adapted to align with'a corresponding opening 28 provided in end flap 24 when the latter is folded inwardly along fo'ld line '26 to coincide with end 15.

Side flap 19"is provided with converging slits 29 and 30, .and 31 and. 32, substantially as illustrated. It will be noted that the slits '29 and 31 are colinear, and that the slits "30 and 32 are also colinear. It willalso benoted that the colinear slits 29 and 31 diverge away from the .top

edge of flap '19 toward back end 15, while the colinearslits 30 and 32'diverge away from fold line 21 toward back end 15. 7 I

'The side fiap20is also provided with converging slits 33 andJ34, and 35 .and 36, substantially as illustrated. The slits -.33-f36 are aligned transversely with slits 29-32,

;..respectively, whentheflaps Y19 and 20 are folded inwardly to coincide with theirrespective .sides 12 and 13.

Theflap 19 and s'ide .12 are provided at their midpoints with transverse, alignedfold lines 37 .and 38, while .the

,flap 20 and .side 13 are similarly provided at their mid- .-.point s-.with transversealigned fold lines 39 and 40. Thus when the portion ;11 is folded flat, as shown in Fig. 6, the fold lines 39 and-.40 are aligned with one cornerv of the body 11, while the :fold lines 37 and 38 are aligned with the fold line 16 in another corner of the body 11, permitting thelatter to be foldedralongthe fold .lines37 and 3.8, and .39 and 40 into thirds,.as will be obvious.

Aygummedpaper strip41 secures the adjacent ends of side 12 and end 15/.together, asshown in Fig. 5.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 7-9, the flaps Hand 20, and 23 and 24.are.foldedinwardly against theirrespectivesides and ends, providing reinforcement for the four sides of body 11, :and also providing tracks 33-35 .and 29-31 {gaming surface 43, substantially as illustrated inFig. .2.

The-gaming surface 43 isprovided with-side flaps 44and-45 integrallyformed along fold lines-46 and 4'1, respectively, and with end flaps -48 and 49.integrallyiformed along fold .lines 50 and-'51,.-respectively. The surface 43 and flaps 44, '45,: Y48 and 49 :are all formed from "a unitary blank of corrugated cardboard.

Theflaps-M, 45, 48 and 49 are 'folded downwardly vzit-right .angles to surface 43,, and when so .foldedare adapted -to fit snugly within the body portion .11, :as shown .in Figs. 1 and 7-9, with the flaps 44, '45,. 48 and -49,coinciding withflaps 19, 20, 23 and .24, respectively.

The flaps 44 and 45 are identical insize and shape as are the flaps 19 and2'0, and are pr'ovidedwith slits 5259 82-85, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 3.

adapted to be aligned with the slits 33-36 and 29-32,

portions of openings 27 and 28, as shown in Fi g s. 7 9.

The surface 43 adjacent the flap 48 is provided with a large opening 62 having a firstextens'ion '63. and a second extension 64, for a purpose whichwill hereinafter become clear. The surface 43 adjacent the flap 49 is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 64a, sub- 'stantially as illustrated and also for a purpose which will hereinafter become clear.

The flaps 44 and 45 and the surface 43 areproyided 4 at their midpointswith transversely aligned fold lines 65-67, respeetively, perm ittingthe top portion 42 to be folded in half for compactness in shipping and packaging.

I The surface 43 below each opening 64a carries suit I able indicia 68, shown in the drawing as abbreviations for varying cards in a deck of playing cards, for example, Qh is equivalent to the queen of hearts, while 95 is equivalent to the nine of spades, and so on. A bottom portion 69 is provided and consists of a rectangular surface 70 integrally formed at oneend with a tongue 71 and at the other end with an end fiap 72, the flap 72 being foldable upwardly at right angles to surface 70 along a fold line 73. Opposite sides of surface, 70 are integrally formed with tongues 74-77, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 4. The surface 70 at its midpoint is provided with a transverse fold line'78 permitting it to be folded in half in a manner similar to top noted that the'portion 79 is parallel to the top portion 42, both portions sloping slightly upward from front to rear.

A plurality of balls 89 are provided, being of slightly less diameter than the openings 88 and 64a.

With the game assembled, and the portion 79 disposed relative to the top portion 42 as shown in Fig. 7, with the openings 88 staggered with respect to the openings 64a, the balls 89 are rolled rearwardly across the gaming surface 43 toward the openings 64a, the objective being to obtain the highest score or hand depending upon the indicia 68, which are of varying values. Thus the balls are rolled in an attempt to obtain the highest poker hand, as will be obvious. When all of the balls have been rolled, it will be noted that the balls 89 will be supported in the openings 64a by means of surface 80,

as shown in Fig. 7. When the hand has been played,

. Fig. 8, whereupon the balls 89 will drop through onto bottom portion 69. Due to the downward inclination of the latter toward the end 14, the balls 89 will roll forward until they come to rest against flap 72, where they may be retrieved by the next player through opening portion 42, providing a more compact unit for pack-,

aging and shipping.

It will be noted that when the flaps 44 and 45 of top portion 42 are folded downwardly into coinciding. relation with the flaps 19 and 20, respectively, of body 11,

that the lowermost, transversely alignedslits29, 31 and;

v downwardly from rear end 15 to'front end 14.

Thus, when the flap 72 of bottornflportion 69 is folded upwardly and the latter inserted upwardly between flaps,

44, 45, 48 and 49 of top portion 42, as shown in Figs. 7-9, passing the tongue 71 through slit 61 of flap 49,

and forcing the tongues 74--77 into slits'52 59 of flaps 44 and and thence into slits 2936 of flaps 19 and 20 aligned therewith, the surface 70 will slope downwardly'from end 15 to end 14;

The relative heights of 49 and 48 of top portion 42 are such that the surface 43 also slopes downwardly from end 15 to end 14, although less than'thesurface 70, and in fact, parallel to the colinear slits 30, 32 and 34, 36 of flaps 19 and 20 of body portion 11.

An intermediate portion 79 is provided and consists of a rectangular surface 80 integrally formed at one end with a tongue 81 and along opposite sides with tongues The surface 80 is provided at the end remote from tongue 81 with a central opening 86, and at its midpoint with a transverse fold line 87, permitting it to be folded in half for greater compactness when shipping and packaging. The surface 80 is alsoprovided adjacent the tongue 81 with'a plurality of spaced openings 88 of the same di-' ameter and adapted to be aligned with the openings 64a in a manner to be described directly.

Prior to insertion of the bottom portion 69, the intermediate portion 79 is inserted upwardly between flaps 'in any other game, for example, baseball.

62. The' intermediate portion 79 is again moved into the position'of Fig. 7, and the above sequence of op- 'scriptiveof the various cards in a deck of playing cards,

it will be obvious that they may be descriptive of scores In such a case, the indicia 68 would read 1h for a one-base hit and HRT for a home-run, and so on. Thus it will be apparent that the present invention is not to be limited to the particular game illustrated in the drawing. I

Inorder to facilitate and determine the relationship between the intermediate portion 79 and top portion 42, the end of surface 80 may be provided with suitable 1 marking, for example,'the words closed and open,

44, 45, 48 and 49, as shown in Figs. 7-9, with the tongue slits 52-59 of flaps 44 and 45 and slits 29- 36 of flaps 19 and 20. The tongues 82-84 are of less length than the slits 5259 and 29-36, permitting the" portion .79

to be moved longitudinally relative to ,jtop portion 42 defined by the appended with arrows pointing in opposite directions, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 3. These words would be visible to the observer at all times, due to the extended cutoutportion 63, while access to the opening 86 is provided atall times by extended cut-out portion 64.

I It should now be apparent that there has been provided a pin-ball game which is formed entirely of corrugated cardboard and which may, therefore, be produced at a much lower cost than conventional pin-ball games made of wood and metal, the game being formed from four separate blanks, each appropriately cut and adapted to be readilyand easily folded and assembled into'operative relationship. It should also be apparent that there has been provided a game of the above type wherein each of the above blanks may be folded back upon themselves in doubled-up relation, providing an extremely compact package which may be shipped at a low cost,

construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claims.

I claimz I 1. A pin-ball game having apertures through'which a plurality of balls are adapted to drop comprising a body "portion, a removable top portion containing said aper- O tures, a slidable intermediate portion having registering apertures and a bottom portion removably engageable with said top portion, each of said body, top, intermediate, and bottom portions being formed from a unitary blank of cardboard, said body portion blank comprising a pair oflongitudinal side and front and rearfend walls connected along vertical fold lines and disposed in rectangular arrangement, side and end flaps integrally formed along the upper edges of said side and end walls along horizontal fold lines, said flaps being folded inwardly against their respective sides and ends, said side flaps having vertically spaced, longitudinal slits, said rear end wall flap having an opening, said top portion blank comprising a rectangular surface adapted to fit within said body portion, side and end flaps integrally formed along the sides and ends of said surface along horizontal fold lines, said top portion side and end flaps being folded downwardly and disposed adjacent said body portion side and end flaps, said top portion side flaps having vertically spaced, longitudinal slits aligned with said slits in said body portion side flaps, said rear end flap of said top portion having vertically spaced, horizontal slits aligned with the top and bottom of said opening insaid body portion rear end wall, said intermediate portion blank compris; ing a rectangular surface adapted to fit within said body portion, side and end tongues integrally formed in the sides and ends of said intermediate surface, said end tongue passing through the uppermost of said slits in said top portion rear end flap and said openings in said body portion rear end and flap thereof, said side tongues being disposed within the uppermost of said slits in said top and body portion side flaps, said intermediate surface being of less length than said body portion and said side tongues being of less length than said slits whereby said intermediate portion may be moved longitudinally within said body portion, and said bottom portion blank comprising a rectangular surface adapted to fit within said body portion, a front end flap integrally formed in said surface along a horizontal fold line, side and a rear end tongue integrally formed in the sides and rear end of said surface, said front end fiap being folded upwardly and disposed adjacent said front flap of said top portion, said rear end tongue passing through the lowermost of said slits in said top portion rear end flap and through the openings in said body portion rear end and flap thereof, said side tongues passing through the lowermost of said slits in said body and top portion side flaps.

2. A pin ball game according to claim 1, said body portion flaps and sides having aligned, vertical fold fines,

said top portion rectangular surface and side flaps having aligned, transverse fold lines, said intermediate and bottom rectangular surfaces having transverse fold lines whereby said blanks may be folded back upon themselves for compactness when shipping.

3. A pin-ball game according to claim 1, said slits in said body and top portion side flaps converging toward said rear end flaps, said body portion side walls along their top edges being inclined downwardly toward said front wall thereof, said side wall flaps of said body portion being identical in size and shape with said side Walls of said body portion and adapted to coincide therewith, said top portion side flaps being identical in size and shape with said body portion side wall flaps.

4. A pin-ball game according to claim 1, said top portion rectangular surface having an opening adjacent said front end flap adapted to receive a hand therethrough, said top portion rectangular surface at the other end thereof having a plurality of spaced, like-sized circular openings, said intermediate portion rectangular surface at its front end having a finger opening and at its rear end having a plurality of second spaced, like-sized openings adapted to be aligned with said openings in said top sur face upon longitudinal movement of said intermediate portion.

5. A pin-ball game according to claim 4, said top portion having a narrow extension of said opening therein adjacent said front flap, said narrow extension being aligned with said finger opening in said intermediate portion.

6. A pin-ball game according to claim 1, said blanks being formed of corrugated cardboard.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 185,239 Keimig Dec. 12, 1876 1,421,575 Schmidt July 4, 1922 1,526,409 Zajicek Feb. 17 1925 1,622,877 McMann Mar. 29, 1927 1,894,469 Lynch Jan. 17, 1933 2,565,584 Armstrong Aug. 28, 1951 

